Screw-propeller



` No. 6|2,598. Patented Oct. I8, |898.

W J WANLESS lSIIREW FROPELLER.

(Appl t nldJun 25 1897) (Mudel Nrrnn STATES' PATENT Fries,

VILLIAM J. VANLESS, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

SCREWPROPELLER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,598, dated October 18, 1898.

`Application fled Tune 25, 1897. Serial No. 642,319. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. WANLEss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Propeller, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sectional screwpropellers, its object being to improve the construction of the hub and the means for connecting the blades thereto, wherebythe joint between the hub and blades will be relieved from side strain and the blades will not become detached from the hub should the key come out as long as the boat is going ahead, and whereby also the lead of the blades will be continued in the hub;

The invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a propeller embodying the improvements contemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the hub on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4t of Fig. 3 with the fastening key or wedge removed from the groove in thecshank of the blade. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the propeller-hub with the propeller-blades and fastenings therefor removed.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.

1 indicates the hub, which is provided with the usual central opening for the reception of the propeller-shaft.- As shown, the hub is four-sided,and in each side a T`sl1aped groove 3 is formed, which extends diagonally across the hub from its front to its rear face. These grooves taper slightly from the rear to the front face of the hub for a purpose to be herein after referred to. The propeller-blades are indicated by 4, and each is provided with a Tshaped shank which tapers slightly longitudinally to correspond with the taper in the T-shaped grooves 3, in which the shanks are adapted to be seated. Each shank is pro vided on its lower face with a slot G, which extends from end to end and is slightly tapering or wedge-shaped in a vertical direction, and these slots form keyways for the recep- Fig. l

face of the hub in order that a drift may be easily inserted to remove the key whenever necessary.

The parts S of the hub between the T- shaped grooves 3 are screw-shaped to form a lead on the hub corresponding with the lead of the adjacent blades: The hub therefore, owing to its shape, forms a propelling power in itself, which greatly aids the blades and re-` duces the resistance of the hub to a minimum. The screw shape of the hub is produced by providing the same at the points 8 with spiral grooves o1' channels extending obliquely across the space between diagonally opposite edges of adjacent blades, whereby such grooves or channels will follow the lead of the blades, or, in other words, have a pitch corre sponding therewith. This formation of the hub necessarily reduces the resistance offered thereby to a minimum and also greatly promotes the propelling action of the propeller. I/Vhen the shanks of the blades are inserted in the T-shaped grooves in the hub and the keys 47 are driven into place, the opposing square shoulders of the shank and the groove will be b rought into close contact with each other and form a rigid bearing for the blade without subjecting the hub to any side strain. When a vessel is being propelled forward, the normal tendency of the blades is to move forward, and in sectional propellers should the key be accidentally lost the blade would work out of its seat and be lost. This objection is also overcome by my invention, for should the key become loose the natural forward movement of the blade in its seat will,`

blades. The tapering form of the key, which is in the direction toward the front face of the hub, will also serve to overcome any tendency of the blades to move out of their seats when the propeller is reversed in order to move the vessel backward.

It Will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what -I claim isl. In a propeller, the hub carrying the blades, and provided on its periphery between the blades with spiral grooves or channels 8 extending obliquely across the space between diagonally opposite edges of adjacent blades, and following the lead of such blades, substantially as set forth.

' `2. In a sectional propeller, the hub having a peripheral series of diagonally-disposed grooves tapering in Width longitudinally toward their front ends, the propeller-blades having at their inner ends shanks registering in said grooves and also of a tapering width to insure a Wedging together of the parts in the forward movement of the blades, said Shanks having formed thereinkeyways, and separate taperingY keys tted in said key- Ways, substantially as set forth.

`3. In a sectional propeller, a hub having a peripheral series of diagonally-disposed T- shaped grooves tapering in Width longitudinally toward their front ends, the propellingblades having at their inner ends T-shaped Shanks registering in said grooves and also of a tapering width corresponding With the taper of the latter, said shanks being provided in their faces next to the base of the grooves with keyways of a tapering depth, and separate tapering keys fitted in said keyways' and 4 bearing against the base of the grooves, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim th-e foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM J. WANLESS.

Vitnesses:

D. ALEXANDER, S. MEIsTER. 

